Method for attaching wall panels



Jan. 25, 1966 A. B. VINJE METHOD FOR ATTACHING WALL mums 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. '7, 1962 Jan. 25, 1966 Filed Dec. 7 1962 METHOD FOR ATTACHING WALL PANELS VINJE 2 heets-Sheet z INVENTOR Amaze; 5. V/A/JE drroe/va/ United States Patent 3,230,684 METHOD FOR ATTACHING WALL PANELS Anders B. Vinje, 10312 Wagner St., Culver City, Calif. Filed Dec. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 243,161 Claims. (Cl. 52-746) In general, the present invention involves a method and means for quickly and simply attaching apanel or wallboard to a wall which securely fastens such panel to the wall while permitting it to be removable therefrom. More particularly, the present invention involves a method and means for attaching a panel to a wall without requiring any tools or precise positioning of the panel and either the bracket means or the support means therefor with respect to said wall. The term wall as used in this application includes both ordinary walls, e.g. the vertical continuous surfaces defining a room and the stud framework for such ordinary walls before panels or wallboards are mounted thereon.

In general, many methods and means are known for attaching panels to a wall, including such simple straightforward means as screws and nails. However, such simple means normally result in blemishes in the resulting panel surfaces and also fix such panel substantilally irremovable to the wall, i.e. removal of the panel involves use of tools and, normally, substantial damage to the panel. Consequently, bracket means or support means have been developed for removably attaching panels to walls which are completely invisible when the panel is mounted on the wall. Examples of such bracket means or support means may be found in the Corwin U.S. Patent No. 1,810,597 and the Venzie U.S. Patent No. 2,082,314. However, such bracket means or support means customarily require very precise positioning of its various parts and of the panel with respect to the wall. For example, as illustrated in Corwin and Venzie, one portion of the bracket means is attached to the wall at a specific location, such as the wall studs. Another portion of the bracket means is attached to the panel and, finally, the panel is hung on the wall by aligning the respective portions of the bracket means. In practice, it has been found that such precise positioning normally requires cutting and fitting of the individual panels at the job sites by the workers at the job site which is both timeconsuming and expensive. Furthermore, such fitting of the panel normally requires substantial clearances, such as one-half inch or more at the top, bottom or side of the panel in order for it to he slipped into place. Thus, to date, panels using such hidden support means usually require elaborate equipment to produce them to precise specification and expensive installation costs. Also, such removable panels utilizing hidden bracket or support means will frequently loosen over a period of time and develop cracks between adjacent panels due to failure to compensate for conditions, such as variation in temperatures.

Consequently, an object of the present invention is a method and means for attaching a panel to a wall without requiring tools or precise positioning of said panel and either its bracket or support means with respect to the wall.

Another object of the present invention is a method and means for removably attaching a panel to a wall utilizing hidden bracket or support means which adapts the weight of the panel to maintain the panel securely fastened to said wall and in tightly adjoining relationship to adjacent panels.

Still another object of the present invention is a method and means for quickly and simply attaching a panel to a wall which securely fastens said panel to the wall and permits it to be removable therefrom, but which requires invention.

3,230,684 Patented Jan. 25, 1966 i only a very small gap, i.e. about one-eighth inch clearance when installing or removing the panel.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following description and drawings which illustrate a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In general, the present invention involves a method of quickly and simply attaching a panel to a wall which securely fastens said panel to the wall while permitting it to be removable therefrom, comprising forming a bracket means or support means for said panel. Such bracket means consists essentially of a first strip of strong, rigid material and a second strip of strong, rigid material fastened to said first strip. The first and second strips are adapted to be securely fastened together or separated by relative movement between the strips. A thin sheet of impermeable, pliable material is mounted between the adjacent inner surfaces of the first and second strips. The first strip may then be attached to either the wall or to one surface of the panel with its outer surface adjoining said surface. Finally, the outer surface of the second strip is bonded to the other surface (i.e. one surface of the panel or the wall) by depositing a layer of adhesive on such other surface or the said second strip surface and contacting the other surface and said second strip surface. Alternatively, the panel may be attached by support means similar to said bracket means except the first strip of the bracket means is formed by a stud flange parallel to the wall to be formed. The present invention also involves the bracket or support means used in said method.

In order to facilitate understanding of the present in- Vention, reference will now be made to the appended drawings of a preferred specific embodiment of the present Such drawings should not be construed as limiting the invention which is properly set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the bracket means of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the assembled bracket means illustrated in FIG. 1 shown supporting a panel on a wall.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of an alternative embodiment of a portion of the bracket means of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of still another alternative embodiment of a portion of the bracket means of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partially-assembled perspective view of'the support means of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a stud used in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an alternative embodiment of a stud which may be used in a similar fashion as illustrated in FIG. 5.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wall panel bracket means 10 of the present invention involves a first strip 11 of strong, rigid material, such as metal or plastic, e.g. steel or aluminum, having a row of slots 12 therein substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strip 11. Each of said slots 12 has at least one straight edge 13 aligned at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the strip 11. As illustrated, such acute angle is approximately 45; however, such angle may fall in the range of about 30 to 60 to the longitudinal axis. Preferably, adjoining each straight edge 13 is a recess 14 which extends below the outer surface of the first strip 11 and is adapted to receive the projecting leg 23 of the L-shaped tongue 21 of the second strip 20. Such recesses are adapted to permit the outer surface of the first strip 11 to be mounted flush with the adjoining wall surface or panel surface.

The support means also includes a second strip 20 having a row of substantially L-shaped tongues 21, with each of said tongues being positioned to be aligned with a corresponding slot '12 in the first strip 11. The base leg 22 of each L-shaped tongue is attached at one end to the second strip 20 and is adapted to slidably contact the straight edge 13 of its corresponding slot 12 in the first strip 11. The projecting leg 23 of each L-shaped tongue 21 is attached to the outer end of the base leg 22 and is adapted to slidably engage the recess- 14 in the outer surface of the first strip 11. Such L- shaped tongues 21 may be separately formed and attached to the second strip 20 by any convenient means, such as welding or brazing. However, preferably, the L-shaped tongues are formed by punching them out of the second strip 20, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Furthermore, any convenient shape, such as semi-circular or straight, may be utilized for the tongues 21 which is adapted to hook onto the slots 12 in the first strip 11. However, the L cross-sectional shape is preferred for its simplicity and convenience since it permits the outer surface of the first strip to be mounted flush with the surface of the wall or panel.

Mounted between the adjacent inner surfaces of the first strip 11 and the second strip 20 is a thin sheet 30 of impermeable, pliable material, such as plastic or metal foil. The sheet 30 is adapted to prevent the first strip 11 and the second strip 20 from sticking together when one of said strips is attached to the surface of a Wall or panel by a semi-liquid adhesive, such as epoxy resin. After one of said strips is bonded to such sufface by such adhesive, the two strips remain adapted to be fastened together or separated, since the sheet 30 can be easily torn at the time of the initial removal of the panel from the wall. As illustrated in FIG. 2., the first strip 11 and the second strip 20 may be fastened together after the strip 11 has been fastened to partition 32. The strip 20 may then be adhesively adhered to the partition 31. As oriented in FIG. 2, the partition 32 represents the wall, while the partition 31 represents the panel mounted on the wall, since such panel is oriented with respect to the wall so that the weight of the panel maintains the. secure fastening together of said strips. However, FIG. 2 could be turned upsidedown so that the partition 31 represented the wall and the partition 32 represented the panel.- In such case, the first strip 11 would be mounted on the panel instead of on the wall and the second strip 20 would be mounted on the wall instead of on the panel. In other words, the first strip 11 and second strip 20 of the present invention are adapted to be mounted on either the wall or the panel being attached to the wall.

In general, the methodv of the present invention involves forming the bracket means 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Before forming such bracket means 10, one of the strips 11 or 20 is attached to the wall or one surface of the panel with its outer surface adjoining the surface to which it is attached. Such attachment may be done by bonding said strip to the surface with adhesive or by using conventional fastening means, such as screws or nails. I Next, the strips 11 and 20 are secured together as shown in FIGURE 2 and the outer surface of the strip is bonded to the other surface, i.e. the inner surface of the panel to be attached to the wall or the wall, by depositing a layer of adhesive on one of said surfaces. Thus, adhesive may be deposited on the outer surface of the other strip or on the other surface. Finally, the panel is contacted with the wall and maintained in .such contact until a permanent bond is'formed therebetween. It should be noted from such description of the methed that no tools are required, although .they may be utilized in the case of the attachment of one strip. More important, precise positioning of the panel or the bracket means with respect to the wall is not required since the strip attached to the panel automatically is attached at the proper point to accommodate the position at which the panel is mounted on the wall.

As illustrated in FIG- 3, a strip 40 may .be utilized in the present invention having parallel rows of slots 41 substantially parallel to its longitudinal axis. Similar to the slotted strip 11 of FIG. 1, each of the slots 41 have at least one straight edge 42 aligned'at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the strip 40. Furthermore, each slot 41 has a recess 43 adapted to receive the corresponding tongue of the other strip. The strip 4t illustrated in FIG. 3 is adapted to receive two strips, such as strip 20 in FIG. 1, each of which is mounted on the adjoining edges of two panels mounted on a wall. Such arrangement causes the Weight of the two panels to force them into a wedging relationship over a con siderable range of horizontal and vertical displacements on the wall. In other words, the two panels can be moved depending on the engagement ofthe tongues in the slots in either direction and upand down because of the angular alignment of the slots. In addition, such arrangement continues to force the two panels into abutting relationship irrespective of the particular position of the panels.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, another strip may be utilized in the present invention having two parallel rows of substantially L-shaped tongues 51, such as the L-shapedtongues 21 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each of said tongues 51 in each of said ro'ws is adapted to be aligned with a corresponding slot in another strip mounted on a panel. Similar to the strip illustrated in FIG. 3, the strip 50 of PEG. 4 is adapted to receive two strips, each of which is mounted on the adjoining edges of two panels hung on the wall. However, unlike the strip 40 in FIG. 3, the tongues 51 of the strip 50 are aligned in opposing angles to the longitudinal axis of the strip 50. Such arrangement is adapted to force each individual panel by the wedging action of the strips adjacent each end into a tight relationship with the wall due to the weight of the panel. However, when utilizing either the strip 40 of FIG. 3 or the strip 50 of FIG. 4, the panels are free to remain floating and free to accommodate various changes in conditions, such as changes in temperature or slight movements of the buildings frame. Furthermore, it should be noted that the panels and all of the embodiments illustrated may be removed from the wall merely by moving them slightly upward or by springing them outwardly because of the resilience of the tongues. Thus, the panels may be attached to or separated from the wall by utilizing extremely small clearance spaces, such as about one-eighth of an inch.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the support means of the present invention includes the wall retaining means consisting essentially of track means 61 formed by two parallel channel bars with their open sides adjoining each other. Slidably mounted in the track means 61 are studs 62 having flanges 63 parallel to the walls to be formed and connecting said flanges by a cross piece 64. Similar to the strips 11, the flanges 63 have a row of slots 12 therein substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flange 63. Each of said slots 12 has at least one straight edge 13- aligned at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the flange 63. As illustrated, such acute angle is approximately 45 degrees. However, such angle may fall in the range of about 30-60 degrees to the longitudinal axis. Similar to the strips 11, the straight edges 13 of the flanges 63 may have recesses whichextend above the inner surface of the flange 63 and which are adapted to receive the projecting leg 23 of the L-shaped tongue 21 of the second strip 20. However, where the first strip is formed by means of the stud flange 63, such recesses are not necessary.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 7, this embodiment of the present invention may involve studs having flanges 71 connected by a cross piece 72. However, in such embodiment, the flanges 71 are formed similarly to the second strip 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and each having a row of substantially L-shaped tongues 21 with each of said tongues being positioned to be aligned with a corresponding slot 12 in a first strip 11. Unlike the second strip 20, the tongues 21 extend upwardly in the flanges 71 to receive the upper edges of the slots 12. It should be noted that in the second embodiment of the present invention utilizing stud flanges for one of the strips that the sheet 30 is unnecessary, although it may still be used.

In general, the method of the present invention involving the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 comprises forming a wall retaining means 60 as illustrated in FIG. 5. Such wall retaining means consist essentially of the track means 61 and at least two studs 62 slidably mounted in said track means with flanges '63 parallel to the wall to be formed. At least two strips of a strong, rigid material, i.e. either strip 11 or =20, depending on the form of the flange 63 or 71. are attached to the panel to be hung on the wall. Each of the studs is then slid so that it is positioned adjacent to a corresponding strip on the panel when the panel is positioned parallel to the wall to be formed. Finally, the panel is attached to the stud.

Many other specific embodiments of the present invention will, be obvious to one skilled on the art in view of this disclosure. For example, while the bracket means of the present invention is preferably mounted on the wall with the adjoining panel substantially perpendicular to the floor adjoining said wall, the bracket means may be mounted at any angle to the floor and even parallel to the floor. Furthermore, while the slots in the strip when mounted on the wall preferably have a lower straight edge at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the strip or when mounted on the panel have a straight upper edge at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of said strip, such straight edges may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said strip.

There are many features in the present invention which clearly show the significant advance the present invention represents over the prior art. C-onsequently, only a few of the more outstanding features will be pointed out to illustrate the unexpected and unusual results obtained by the present invention. One feature of the present invention is the fact that the bracket or support means of the present invention do not require any precise positioning of the panel and either the bracket means or support means with respect to the wall, unlike all prior art support means known to applicant. For example, the panel is bonded to the bracket means merely by a layer of adhesive while the two strips of the support means are prevented from being bonded together by the sheet therebetween and the bracket means may be initially positioned anywhere on the wall and will then become attached to the proper position on the panel when the panel is attached to the wall. Furthermore, the panel remains removable from the wall, since the sheet is easily torn when the panel is moved outwardly or in any other direction at the time of removal from the wall. Another feature of the present invention is the utilization of slots in one of the strip portions of the support means having a straight edge at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of such strip when the strip is mounted substantially perpendicular to the floor adjoining the wall. Thus, the weight of the panel causes a wedging action to firmly attach the panel to the wall and to adjoining panels while the panel remains free and floating so that it can adjust to changes, such as changes in temperature.

It will be understood that the foregoing description and examples are only illustrative of the present invention and it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto. All substitutions, alterations and modifications of the present invention which come within the scope of the following claims or to which the present invention is readily susceptible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure are considered part of the present invention.

1 claim:

1. A method of removably attaching a panel to a wall, comprising the steps of:

attaching to said wall a first strip of rigid material having openings therein with laterally sloping lower edges; removably mounting on said first strip a second strip of rigid material by engaging laterally sloping and downwardly extending tongues of said second strip in said openings whereby said tongues rest on said lower edges and slide to the lower ends thereof; and

adhesively bonding the outer surface of said second strip to one surface of said panel by depositing adhesive material on one of said surfaces then bringing said surfaces together while holding said panel in it-s desired final position of orientation relative to said wall.

2. A method as stated in claim 1 wherein said layer of adhesive is deposited on the outer surface of said second strip.

3. A method as stated in claim 1 wherein said layer of adhesive is deposited on said one surface of said panel.

4. A method as stated in claim 1 wherein said first strip is elongated and attached to said Wall substantially perpendicular to the floor adjoining said wall.

'5. A method of removably attaching a panel to a wall, comprising the steps of:

attaching to a face of said panel a first strip of rigid material having laterally sloping tongues extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom; removably securing said first strip to a second strip of rigid material by engaging said tongues in correspondingly positioned openings in said second strip, said openings having lower edges sloping laterally in the direction of slope of said tongues; and

adhesively bonding the outer surface of said second strip to the surface of said wall by depositing adhesive material on one of said surfaces then bringing said surfaces together while holdin-g said panel in its desired final position of orientation relative to said wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,810,597 6/1931 Corwin 52-489 2,082,314 6/ 1937 Venzie 52-489 2,151,597 3/1939 Hamilton 52-746 2,562,7 7-9 7/ 1951 Ben 20-92 2,863,405 12/1958 Leibrook et al 52-420 3,033,330 5/1962 Fowles et al. 52-127 3,038,276 6/ 1962 Butler 52-285 3,103,708 9/1963 Pomeroy et a1. 52-198 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

JACOB L. NA'CKENOFF, Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF REMOVABLY ATTACHING A PANEL TO A WALL, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: ATTACHING TO SAID WALL A FIRST STRIP OF RIGID MATERIAL HAVING OPENINGS THEREIN WITH LATERALLY SLOPING LOWER EDGES; REMOVABLY MOUNTING ON SAID FIRST STRIP A SECOND STRIP OF RIGID MATERIAL BY ENGAGING LATERALLY SLOPING AND DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING TONGUES OF SAID SECOND STRIP IN SAID OPENINGS WHEREBY SAID TONGUES REST ON SAID LOWER EDGES AND SLIDE TO THE LOWER ENDS THEREOF; AND ADHESIVELY BONDING THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SECOND STRIP TO ONE SURFACE OF SAID PANEL BY DEPOSITING ADHESIVE MATERIAL ON ONE OF SAID SURFACES THEN BRINGING SAID SURFACES TOGETHER WHILE HOLDING SAID PANEL IN ITS DESIRED FINAL POSITION OF ORIENTATION RELATIVE TO SAID WALL. 